From July of 2009 to July of 2010, you might remember a little project that I worked on, called sketch of the day. In case not, here’s the official details. I did a sketch a day inspired by a song in my music collection. I say music collection because yes, I’m that person who still buys CDs and records. I had six basic rules or guidelines for each sketch.

Black & white only

One round of revisions

No references

Song titles must be included

Completed in under an hour

No bands could be repeated

“Synesthesia” chronicles the project from beginning to end with all 366 sketches organized into reoccurring themes. In addition, the 274 page book includes finalized posters, shirts, prints, as well as some of the emails from the bands featured for a unique behind-the-scenes look into my daily drawing. I even have a chapter dedicated to my mistakes. Check twice, ink once.

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I just got word that my first shirt design was approved for voting on Threadless. It will be up for voting for the next 6 days, so please show some love and score it as you see fit. If it gets a high enough score the fine group of designers at Threadless will print the shirts, and you can even own one if you’d like. Here’s the link, so do your best!

It’s officially done. I know it took only 9 months to get it finished. Let’s just say that I had to learn a lot about silkscreening during the process. Here’s what one of the final prints looks like.

19"W x 25"H 3 colors including a gloss scroll texture for the background

None of the 41 prints came out perfect, mainly because the gloss coat was out of registration to varying degrees. We did figure out the registration by the time we did the 3rd color though, so the next series of posters should be much better.

So, here’s the deal. I have 9 pretty good prints, 15 okay prints and 17 nice reminders of getting the registration right from the beginning. They’re all signed and numbered. (It’s okay to go ahead and laugh.) If you’d like a print, I’ll be happy to send you one for the cost of a mailing tube and postage. Or if you’re in the Dallas/Fort Worth area shoot me an email at tad@creativesquall.com and we can meet.

Thanks to everyone who voted, followed and supported this effort over the past year. I’ll post details of posters for sale in the coming weeks, as well as more details about Synesthesia the book inspired by the sketch of the day project.

It’s been a few weeks since the final sketches went live, and I thought it seemed like a great time to put up the final poll. Cast your vote from the list below, or feel free to write in your favorite if you don’t see it in the list. You can vote until August 27th at midnight.

Thanks for everyone that followed this crazy project for the last year, and a I’d like to give a big thank you to everyone who commented or voted. The book is currently being organized. Be sure to check back for updates, and to learn about my new year-long project which will be unveiled in September.

Today’s entry makes the final sketch/song for this year long project. As I thought about how I’d like to end, I wanted to leave everyone with something not only incredibly personal, but something to make you think about everyone around you.

We all have people in our lives that have influenced us more than they could ever know, and unfortunately more often than not we forget to tell them how important they are before they’re gone. The song “Hear You Me” by Jimmy Eat World is a touching song full of regret for not thanking the people around us.

I broke all of my rules for this final sketch.
I used references.
I spent more than an hour sketching.
I didn’t include the name of the song.
And I even did 2 sketches instead of one.

The first sketch is of one of the greatest ladies I’ve ever had the opportunity to know, Pauline Dobbs, my grandmother on my dad’s side. (Though we called her Mema.) I don’t think I ever saw her without a smile on her face, and that’s because I think she truly lived life the way she wanted. Whether she was gardening, making her famous Peach Ice Cream (which has been lost with her passing), reading, or just doing what she did best, listening, she was truly the happiest person I know. I hope that as I get older, I’m able to experience just an inkling of the joy she seemed to surround herself with every day. I miss you Mema.

The second sketch is of a person, who I considered my best friend for the first 14 years of my life, Eugene Runnells, my grandfather on my mom’s side. (Though we called him Pop.) I used to spend a few weeks every summer staying with my mom’s parents in Mississippi, and I truly think that was the moment I looked forward to every year. Pop always had stuff planned, but more importantly he spent time with me and my cousins making us laugh. I still have the Mr. Yuck faces that he cut out of the newspaper and sent to me, because I was such a picky eater as a kid. My mom recently showed me a photo that Pop and Mema Runnells took with a message for me. “Archie & Edith, April 9, 1978 – Tad, my hair was too short, so I had to put my flower in my belly button.” He had the biggest heart out of anyone I’ve known, and I hope that one day I can give half as much to the world as he did. My biggest regret is that the last time I saw him that he took the blame for me accidentally throwing away my 5th retainer at McDonald’s. He told my parents that he had rushed me. I was ever able to thank him. Pop I’m sorry, and I miss you more than anyone knows.

So, please listen to the song, and more importantly tell the important people in your lives how much they mean to you.

Thanks to everyone who has supported this project over the last year. Stay tuned as I begin wrapping up the poster and shirt prints of the poll winners to find out how you can get one. Also, I’m going to be developing the sketch of the day project into a book tentatively titled “Synesthesia” with additional goodies, finished art and stories.

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I’m not the biggest fan of guitar, especially acoustic, but I’m absolutely amazed by the sounds that Rodrigo y Gabriela are able to make. I don’t think I’d be overstating their talent when I say that they may both be the most talented guitarists and possibly the best musicians that I’ve ever heard. Their sound pulls in the influences of flamenco and classical guitar, but the speed and technicality at which they play is other-worldly. Throw in the fact that they both are able to drum, hammer and tap the percussive backing to their songs all while hitting a million clean notes in one beat, and you have the ingredients for possibly the coolest video and audio presentation ever. They are currently touring in support of their new album. Though they aren’t coming to Dallas, I’m thinking about driving to Austin or San Antonio just to see them live. To put that in perspective, I have never driven more than an hour to see a band.

A couple of weeks ago I did a song for Blakroc, The Black Keys hip-hop outfit. I was surprised that I hadn’t done a sketch for The Black Keys yet. If you aren’t familiar with them, their sound reminds me a bit of Jimi Hendrix with a heavily distorted blues sound and songs that typically deal with heart break and messed up relationships. They just released a new album that is supposed to be incredible. I haven’t heard the whole thing yet, but the bits I’ve heard are awesome. I guess I’ll be purchasing that album soon.

Troubled Hubble is a great indie rock band that has some of the funniest titles and themes of songs much like Minus the Bear, though they sound nothing alike. Troubled Hubble reminds me of a poppier version of Primus. I felt it was appropriate to take a literal approach to their song about passionate canoeing.

Sleigh Bells is an awesome new act from New York that is loud, distorted and a blast to listen to. I believe they are electronic, but the distorted sounds remind me of many early eighties punk bands which is probably why I like them so much. The album is on its way to my house as I write this. I think it was just released last month, though the band has amassed a huge following in the last year, particularly at SxSW. I hear elements of M.I.A.‘s influence in some of the material particularly the song “Rill Rill” which I almost did a sketch of.